The UK-based holding company for the ABBA Voyage virtual concert saw a slight increase in turnover but a drop in pre-tax profit in 2024, as the London show featuring legendary group ABBA entered its third year.
Aniara Ltd reported a 0.6% year-over-year increase in turnover in 2024, to GBP £104.34 million, according to a filing with the UK’s Companies House on Tuesday (September 30). That amounts to USD $112.9 million at the average exchange rate for 2024.
Most of that came from sales to the ABBA Voyage show, which had 374 performances in 2024, the same number as the previous year, at its custom-built, 3,000-seat arena in Stratford, London. The shows averaged an occupancy rate of more than 90%, making ABBA Voyage “one of London’s most in demand live entertainment concerts,” Aniara stated in the filing.
The company reported 1.06 million tickets sold during the year, a slight decline from the 1.1 million it reported in 2023. Turnover from ticket sales fell 1.9% YoY, to £99.65 million ($107.85 million).
That was partly offset by a tripling in film rights sales, to £4.51 million ($4.88 million). Sales of stage rights fell to around £176,000 ($190,000) from nearly £900,000 the year before.
The company’s pre-tax profit fell 30.5% YoY to £4.22 million ($4.57 million).
It saw its cost of sales rise by around £3 million, to £102.1 million. Wage and salary costs rose more than 50% as the company expanded its payroll to 134 from 113 the year before.
“There is still a substantial market demand for ABBA Voyage, and the Directors anticipate a continued high level of activity throughout 2025 and 2026,” the company said in its filing.
Aniara Ltd is wholly owned by Goldonder AB, a company within Sweden-headquartered Pophouse Entertainment, the music rights and entertainment brand development company co-founded by ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus in 2014.
“There is still a substantial market demand for ABBA Voyage, and the Directors anticipate a continued high level of activity throughout 2025 and 2026.”
Aniara Ltd
ABBA Voyage launched at London’s ABBA Arena in May 2022. The show blends live music with virtual elements, such as avatars (or “ABBAtars”) of the group’s members as they appeared in 1979.
In its first three years, Aniara estimates the show has had a £1.51 billion impact on London’s economy, with £833.1 million in gross value added.
Among its key risks and uncertainties, the company listed “fluctuations in public demand and audience preferences,” economic pressures affecting discretionary spending, and health and safety concerns or “global disruptions,” such as pandemics.
“Risk mitigation strategies, including dynamic pricing models, diversified marketing campaigns, and robust health and safety protocols, remain in place,” the company stated.Music Business Worldwide
